137 



ring being thereby stretched and enlarged, a portion of intestine may 

 escape into the sack, complicating the disease with hernia. 



The only rational and effective treatment is castration, and even this 

 may not succeed when the disease is speciiic (glanders, tuberculosis). 



HYDROCELE — DROPSY OF THE SCROTUM. 



This may be merely an accompaniment of dropsj^ of the abdomen, the 

 cavity of which is continuous with that of the scrotum in horses. It 

 may be the result, however, of local disease in the testicle, spermatic 

 cord, or walls of the sack. 



The symptoms are enlargement of the scrotum, and fluctuation under 

 the fingers, the testicle being recognized as floating in water. By press- 

 ure the liquid is forced, in a slow stream, and with a perceptible thrill, 

 into the abdomen. Sometimes the cord, or the scrotum, are thickened 

 and pit on pressure. 



Treatment may be the same as for ascites, yet when the effusion has 

 resulted from inflammation of the testicle or cord, astringent applications 

 (chalk and vinegar) may be applied to these. Then if the liquid is not 

 re absorbed under diuretics and tonics, it may be drawn off through the 

 nozzle of a hypodermic syringe, which has been first passed through 

 carbolic acid. In geldings it is best to dissect out the sacks. 



VARICOCELE. 



This is an enlargement of the venous network of the spermatic cord, 

 and gives rise to general thickening of the cord from the Testicle up to 

 the ring. The same astringent dressings may be tried as in hydrocele, 

 and this failing castration may be resorted to. 



ABNORMAL NUMBER OF TESTICLES. 



Sometimes one or both testicles are wanting 5 in most such cases, 

 however, they are merely partially developed, and retained in the in- 

 guinal canal, or the abdomen (cryptorchid). In rare cases there may 

 be a third testicle, the animal becoming to this extent a double monster. 

 Teeth, hair, and other indications of a second foetus have likewise been 

 found in the testicle, or scrotum. 



DEGENERATION OF THE TESTICLES. 



The testicles may become the seat of fibrous, calcareous, fatty, carti- 

 laginous, or cystic degeneration, for all of which the appropriate treat- 

 ment is castration. They also become the seat of cancer, glanders, or 

 tuberculosis, and castration is requisite, though with less hope of ar- 

 resting the disease. Finally they may become infested with cystic 

 tape-Tvorms, or the armed round worm (solcrostomum cquinumj. 



